Wonka in Widescreen?

[Maxie Zeus]

OK, I knew that WB had (once again) screwed up by releasing the new "Willie Wonka" DVD in pan-and-scan. Of course, everyone was protesting.

In Friday's Wall Street Journal, the film critic off-handedly remarks that protests HAVE led Warners to decide to release it in its original aspect ratio. Can anyone confirm that Warners has reversed course?

[Calhoun07]

Well, WB DID release Wonka in it's original aspect ratio. It was filmed in 1.33:1 ratio, from what I understand, and reformatted for theatrical release. So what you see on the full screen DVD is not a pan and scan version, just a full frame version. So you really don't miss out on anything in the shots on the pan and scan.

And, yes, they will be releasing a letter boxed edition, I believe in late October or early November, I forget the exact date.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by calhoun07
Well, WB DID release Wonka in it's original aspect ratio. It was filmed in 1.33:1 ratio, from what I understand, and reformatted for theatrical release. So what you see on the full screen DVD is not a pan and scan version, just a full frame version. So you really don't miss out on anything in the shots on the pan and scan.

Sigh.

Clearly I don't know what is going on, and the people I used to trust on these things (like a certain whale-sized critic for the Sun-Times) don't know what is going on, so now I don't know who knows what's going on, except that I'm not one of them.

I get a headache when I try to figure these things out, because everyone I read on the subject feels strongly about "authenticity" without ever defining it, and then they just start yelling.

Maybe I'll forget the DVD and just re-read the book instead.

[BourgeoisBuffoon]

...Or buy the video and forget about the DVD!
...You know the sequel CHARLIE AND THE GREAT GLASS ELEVATOR? I wonder what'd it be like if they made a film out of that. It was a good story as well... But most the actors are gone or grown up, and knowing today's Hollywood, I cringe if they make a remake of #1 or make the sequel...

[Calhoun07]

Originally posted by Maxie Zeus


Sigh.

Clearly I don't know what is going on, and the people I used to trust on these things (like a certain whale-sized critic for the Sun-Times) don't know what is going on, so now I don't know who knows what's going on, except that I'm not one of them.

I get a headache when I try to figure these things out, because everyone I read on the subject feels strongly about "authenticity" without ever defining it, and then they just start yelling.

Maybe I'll forget the DVD and just re-read the book instead.

Perhaps the only one who can truly answer your question is the director himself. Or the camera crew.

Personally, I prefer to see the movie the way it was INTENDED to be seen. From what I understand, there are technical errors you can see in the full frame version that were not intended to be seen, as it was always intended to be shown on a wide screen. So I am confident the widescreen version is the way it should be seen, so I will be waiting for that in November.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by calhoun07
Personally, I prefer to see the movie the way it was INTENDED to be seen. From what I understand, there are technical errors you can see in the full frame version that were not intended to be seen, as it was always intended to be shown on a wide screen. So I am confident the widescreen version is the way it should be seen, so I will be waiting for that in November.

OK, this goes a long way toward clearing up my confusion.

A few years ago I saw "Singing in the Rain" at a local art-house theater. Idiots. They showed it in wide-screen format, with the result that you could only see Gene Kelly dance from the ankles up.

From what you said above, I was afraid that a "widescreen" Willie Wonka would have much the same effect.

[Maxie Zeus]

This was the source of my confusion on the topic. Roger Ebert on the original aspect ratio:

'Willy Wonka' was originally released as a widescreen movie. The new Warner Brothers release has been 'modified to fit your screen'--a sneaky way of saying, 'we have chopped off the sides of the picture so what is left will be the same shape as a TV.'

So if I understand you correctly, Ebert was wrong: nothing on the sides would be lost on the "modified version," but instead would have included areas at the top and bottom of the screen that were NOT intended to be seen?

[Calhoun07]

We got in on this discussion on the DVD board. Check it out. That info I gave you, I got from there. I can't recall at this point, however, if it was on the Willy Wonka thread exclusively or if it also got into the widescreen vs fullscreen debate. But I am sure Ebert must know what he's talking about. This is interesting, either way. Now I want to research this for myeself and see if I can find a website that compares to two versions side by side.

[Calhoun07]

Here is a link to that post. There is more on it if you scroll down.

http://forums.toonzone.net/showthrea...&threadid=3969

to be honest, I am still debating which version I will buy. From the looks of it, Ebert WAS right, but the widescreen ratio was so miminal, you really aren't missing anything on the full frame version. But hopefully that informaion on that thread can help you further.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by calhoun07
We got in on this discussion on the DVD board. Check it out.

My bad. Not having a home DVD player, The DVD Discussion Board does to me what the candy-store does to the impoverished Charlie Bucket. But I should have thought of it before posting. Anyway, I've gone ahead and moved the thread over to the DVD board; fits better anyway, even if it is redundant with another thread.

So it really is complicated, eh? Sigh.

[Maxie Zeus]

Originally posted by calhoun07
Here is a link to that post. There is more on it if you scroll down.

http://forums.toonzone.net/showthrea...&threadid=3969

to be honest, I am still debating which version I will buy. From the looks of it, Ebert WAS right, but the widescreen ratio was so miminal, you really aren't missing anything on the full frame version. But hopefully that informaion on that thread can help you further.

Groan. I remember that thread now. It confused me then and it confuses me now. No blame to Patrick or anyone else, but there are so many possibilities and complications that I can't keep them straight.

[Calhoun07]

Well, this is why WB should have just put both version on the same disc and let us work it out which one we like better. I want both version on the same disc! I want to make a choice! I don't want to have to buy the same movie twice just to do a comparison! Sure, they say they will put out the widescreen version NOW, but what about those of us who might happen to want both versions on the same disc to do comparisons? AAAGHG, even in fixing it, WB still leaves it mightilly screwed up.